On View at Hakgojae Until June 28
Jung Sooyoung captures everyday spaces on canvas. The various objects depicted in her paintings are realistic, yet they differ slightly from reality. This is because, as she explains, she does not want viewers to become excessively emotionally invested in the paintings. At Hakgojae, Jung Sooyoung's solo exhibition features around 30 new paintings, centering on her latest 'Pantry' series.
When meeting Jung Sooyoung on the 28th at Hakgojae in Jongno, her face was filled with shyness. According to her, she is an extreme introvert who spends more than 90% of her daily life alone. Immersed in her painting, she naturally finds herself alone and has not particularly felt lonely. However, one day, she suddenly wanted to remain within the gaze of others. She explained, "In today's society, where people are often excessively exposed, I thought loneliness was a survival strategy, but I decided to muster the courage to narrow the physical distance with the world."
'Not for Posting' (2024) is the result of this shift. Previously, Jung had employed a style that did not depict the narrator in her works, but this time she painted herself taking a half-bath in a bathtub. She said, "Generally, people look very beautiful when taking a half-bath," and added, "There are many moments in people's daily lives that are not easily shared with others but are still worth sharing, and I wanted to express that." This sentiment aligns with the exhibition's title: 'I want to be invited, but I don't want to attend.'
'Pantry7' expresses the human tendency to present a different exterior from what lies within. While the outside may appear orderly, a closer look reveals many things inside that are not organized, evoking empathy. 'Pantry29' imagines what food might look like in the future, depicting octopus created with a 3D printer and scorpions in jars, creating an eerie atmosphere.
The artist reconstructs familiar scenes from her surroundings into metaphorical images, encouraging viewers to overlay their own memories and experiences and to connect sensorially with the work. When scenes discovered in someone else's daily life overlap with the layers of personal memory, viewers can experience an expansion of thought through the artwork.
Jung Sooyoung was born in Seoul and studied painting at Ewha Womans University and its graduate school, as well as at the Royal College of Art in London, United Kingdom. This is her first exhibition at Hakgojae. The exhibition runs until June 28.
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